Cleveland Guardians vs Colorado Rockies Match Player Stats On Jun 07, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 7, 2017

DENVER -- Nolan Arenado shrugged off a forgettable performance and helped the Colorado Rockies wallop the Cleveland Indians 8-1 and sweep their two-game series Wednesday.

Arenado, who went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, tied his career high with four strikeouts Tuesday. On Wednesday, he doubled home two runs and had an RBI triple in the third inning in support of rookie left-hander Kyle Freeland.

Freeland held the Indians scoreless until the seventh when Jose Ramirez drove a slider over the wall in center an estimated 438 feet for his eighth home run.

Freeland gave up one run on six hits in 6 1/3 innings with no walks and five strikeouts and got nine outs on ground balls. It was the team-leading ninth quality start for Freeland (7-3), who leads all major league rookie starters with a 3.34 ERA.

Austin Jackson followed Ramirez with a single that ended Freeland's 100-pitch workday. Chris Rusin then gave up a bunt single to Bradley Zimmer. Roberto Perez hit a hard grounder to second baseman DJ LeMahieu. He wasn't able to handle the potential double-play ball cleanly and threw out Perez, putting runners in scoring position for pinch hitter Edwin Encarnacion.

Right hip soreness caused Indians manager Terry Francona to scratch Encarnacion from his original lineup. It was the first pinch-hitting appearance this season for Encarnacion, who tapped back to Rusin.

The Rockies have outscored opponents 32-6 while winning four straight. They are a season-high 15 games above .500 (38-23) and have a series record of 14-3-3. The loss was the fifth in seven games for the Indians.

Arenado's two-run, two-out double with the bases loaded gave the Rockies a 2-0 lead in the third. Indians starter Trevor Bauer (5-5) then issued his third walk of the inning to load the bases but struck out Mark Reynolds, who disgustedly slammed down his helmet after his foul tip was caught.

The Rockies made it 4-0 in the fourth on Charlie Blackmon's two-run double. It came with one out after Bauer gave up a leadoff single to Ian Desmond and walked Trevor Story.

Bauer gave up four runs on five hits in 3 1/3 innings with five walks and three strikeouts as he came back with two days' rest after a Sunday start was halted by rain after 1 2/3 innings.

Center fielder Blackmon cut down Francisco Lindor when he tried to tag up and take third on Michael Brantley's drive. Third baseman Arenado made a diving tag of Lindor as he was sliding head-first. Lindor was originally called safe, but the call was overturned.

That was the first time the Indians got a runner in scoring position. It happened again when pinch hitter Daniel Robertson doubled in the sixth with one out. Freeland retired Jason Kipnis on a pop up, but Lindor singled up the middle with shortstop Story saving a run but having no play after ranging to his left to snare the ball behind second. Freeland stranded the runners by striking out Brantley.

The Rockies scored two unearned runs in the seventh on Cody Allen's wild pitch and pinch hitter Raimel Tapia's slow roller. Ian Desmond singled home a run in the eighth.

NOTES: Rockies RHP Jon Gray (left foot stress fracture) will leave Thursday for high Class A Lancaster. He will throw his second simulated game and then begin a rehab assignment. ... Rockies OF Gerardo Parra (right quadriceps strain) was placed on the disabled list. OF Jordan Patterson was recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. ... Rockies RHP Adam Ottavino (right shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen session and is expected to be reinstated Friday when he is eligible to come off the 10-day disabled list. ... Indians RHP Mike Clevinger was optioned to Triple-A Columbus, and LHP Kyle Crockett was recalled from that team. ... Rockies RHP German Marquez will be given one more day of rest due to right thumb soreness and start Friday at Chicago instead of Thursday. Tyler Chatwood, who had been scheduled to start Friday, will pitch Thursday.